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Johnny Depp & Meryl Streep Head 'Into the Woods' for Disney Musical

In 2007, Johnny Depp stretched his musical muscles in the title role for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and the next year Meryl Streep showed off her pipes in Mamma Mia. Now the two will both head back into the musical genre together for Disney's an adaptation of the 1980's Broadway musicalInto the Woods from Stephen Sondheim, adapted for the screen by James Lapine from his own book. Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall boarded the project back in early 2012, and his Chicago and Nine collaborator David Krane is working on the music. More below!

The story is perfect for Disney with all the fairytale characters that show up. In the musical, a childless baker (Depp) and his wife attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront the witch (Streep) who cast the spell keeping them from having children. Along the way, they meet characters like Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and more in the woods. Variety says there's no production start date set, but it sounds like Depp would shoot this sometime in early 2014 after he's already done with Transcendence for Wally Pfister and Black Mass for Barry Levinson. Sound good?

I guess that this means that Pirates of the Caribbean 5, will start filming in the second half of 2014?

RikOShea

I'm impressed. When I heard they were making this film I figured Disney was going to load it up with Zach Effrons and Demi Lavatos. Not that they couldn't have made a fun version of this musical....but with this casting news it looks like Disney is shooting for some Oscar love.

Maxx

You know what made Les Miserables a successful movie musical above all else? Legitimate singers. I love Streep and Depp in straight acting roles but both are lacking when it comes to singing and Sondheim is some of the most challenging musical theatre there is.

out of normal

So the question is will they leave the original ending with death and destruction or will they Disneyfy it - like what happened with Little Shop of Horrors? (yes, Disney didn't do Little Shop but you get the point).

Dan B

Thing is, this should be a dark musical for sure so a little bit worried about any Disneyfying.
However, did you know that Tim Burton was looking at this for years. Would explain the Depp-link despite a different director being named.

Dear Rob Marshall, please, please, please look at Johnny Depp's pre-Burton work when you are directing him in this film. The baker is a character of pathos and dignity and love. He cannot be played as a buffoon...or he can which is what Tim Burton would have done. Please go back and re-watch Edward Scissorhands and Benny Joon to remind yourself of what your actor is capable of.